Millions have taken to the roads, railways and airports at the start of a Bank Holiday weekend where rain was expected to give way to some welcome sunshine.

Among those glad to see the showers relent were the many thousands flocking to music festivals over the weekend.

Some major roads were busy from early today, with heavy morning rush-hour traffic on the M25 in Kent, the M4 in London, the M6 in the West Midlands and the A12 in Suffolk.

A multi-vehicle accident on the A14 in Suffolk caused lane closures and congestion. This incident followed a serious accident last night on the M5 near Exeter in which seven people had to be airlifted to hospital.

The Highways Agency has completed some roadworks before the weekend and has lifted restrictions at other sites.

But restrictions remain in place at 32 locations, including the M40, near Bicester, two sections of the M25 and works at the M48 in Chepstow, Wales, and the M62 near Leeds.

Today is the busiest day of the holiday at Heathrow, with the west London airport expected to handle 217,900 people.

A total of 840,000 people will pass through the airport between Friday and Bank Holiday Monday.

Heathrow's five busiest destinations over the holiday period are New York, Dubai, Paris, Dublin and Los Angeles.

Travel organisation Abta said about 1.8 million Britons would leave the country between Friday and Monday. A total of 136,000 will be leaving from Stansted Airport and 65,000 from Luton.